Clive Thabo Dube
MTHWAKAZI REPUBLIC PARTY (MRP) has said Matabeleland has for years suffered from political negligence making the region more of Zimbabwe’s plankton with its residents treated as second class citizens.
Matabeleland lacks political representation and lags behind in development with those residing in the region referred mostly as “people from Matabeleland”
(foreigners) rather than Zimbabweans. A term perpetuating institutional tribalism and marginalization, racism and division of ethnicity.
In 1923 after colonization, Matabeleland and Mashonaland were merged to form Rhodesia. After Independence, the union continued.
But the negligence of Matabeleland by politicians has seen pro Mthwakazi activists and MRP calling for the restoration of the pre-colonial Ndebele Kingdom citing oppression and disrespect from the Shona dominated government, claiming the government uses, Zimbabwe’s very own
Schlieffen Plan (the 1979 Grand Plan) to exterminate (Gukurahundi genocide) and marginalize Matabeleland.
The Grand Plan is a document that is believed to have been written before Zimbabwe attained independence. The document set in motion the sidelining of the Ndebele speaking citizens. The plan set to place people of Shona ethnicity into managerial positions all over the country be it in government or private sector. Having such positions under the Shona control ensured that the Ndebele speaking residents would not be employed. The plan also created flooding of Shona products into the market everywhere in the country. Even in schools the Shona language is taught across the country but the second largest spoken language, isiNdebele, is not taught.
In summary, Mthwakazi Republic Party claims the document was penned by former minister Dr. Simba Makoni and Nathan Shamuyarira, who are both from ZANU-PF, had achieved its objectives.
“Elections are a waste of time, management of public perception. There is no benefit to the people of Matabeleland. The suffering that has been invading the region will continue at the expense of our populace.” MRP Youth League Chairman Mudenda Chilumbo said.
In the upcoming elections scheduled for August 23, there is no presidential candidate hailing from Matabeleland who stood up. With that alone, the entire election programme will bring no change to Mthwakazi, Chilumbo moaned.
“In as much that document is still in place, insisted or perpetuated, any election in Matabeleland is a waste of time because if you look at the presidential candidates. They are all from Mashonaland.
“There is no hope of any change when it comes to political power, that’s why you see MRP is insisting that there must be restoration of the pre-colonial status quo of Matabeleland as a Kingdom away from Zimbabwe and Mashonaland leadership.” He added.
Since Independence, Matabeleland has been displaced and overlooked when it came to political power. Political players in the region have been downsized by unpublicized political mechanisms put in place.
And the after effects of the grueling massacre of thousands people in the region mostly the Matabeleland and Midlands regions still exist, rendering many stateless, no identity and orphans.
MRP has fought tooth and nail with the Zanu-PF government to bring back uMthwakazi sovereignty to no avail. Should the ruling party remain in power or new leadership comes in place, the battle is likely to carry on nonetheless.
The extremist party fielded local authority candidates across Matabeleland but no presidential candidate in the forthcoming plebiscite slated for this coming August.
Meanwhile United African National Council (UANC) leader Reverend Gwinyai Muzorewa, who is a presidential candidate has vowed to turn around Matabeleland region.
“Matabeleland is an area that has been neglected. It pains me, this is an issue that really burns me whether I am a candidate for president or not.
“The reason l want to be President is so that l have the key to turn things in favor of this part of Zimbabwe that has been neglected.” Muzorewa said.
Despite the disunity amongst the fading Royal Family (the Khumalo Clan), Matabeleland secession seems inevitable. As schools in Matabeleland have been recording poor pass rates due to deployment of Shona speaking teachers into the region at the expense of the already qualified and readily available teachers from the region. Less infrastructure development for schools in Matabeleland compared to Mashonaland still persist.
Also with the Shona language being taught in almost all the schools in Matabeleland, while isiNdebele language is nowhere near Mashonaland classrooms.
Most officials at government offices, who are not conversant of Matabeleland languages and ignorant to learn are allegedly forcing non-Shona speaking citizens to speak the Shona language if they want service delivery or employment in public offices. This has seen the country’s public institutions in Matabeleland make some errors (wrong name and surname spellings in the Birth and Death Registry offices).
Many are left to wonder, if Zimbabwe is ‘Shona’ , why is Matabeleland denied self rule?